Angelonia plant named ‘Balangbakin’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Angelonia  plant named ‘Balangbakin’, characterized by its lavender pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, prostrate growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Angelonia angustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘Balangbakin’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant botanically known as Angelonia angustifolia and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balangbakin’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during June 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Angelonia cultivars with unique flower coloration, continuous flowering, and a moderately vigorous, freely branching, and prostrate growth habit.

The new cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding selection designated 147-1,2-6-2-3, not patented, characterized by white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and semi-prostrate growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is AngelMist® Basket Purple ‘Balangbeke’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,546, characterized by purple-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and semi-prostrate to trailing growth habit. The new Angelonia cultivar was discovered and selected at a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2004 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2004 at Elburn, Ill., Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balangbakin’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant:

-   -   1. Lavender pink-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, prostrate growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color, foliage color, and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Angelonia cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the male parent AngelMist® Basket Purple ‘Balangbeke’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,546. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balangbeke’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Balangbeke’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are narrower than plants of         ‘Balangbeke’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balangbakin’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balangbakin’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balangbakin’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balangbakin’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 8, 2006 between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Angelonia angustifolia cultivar     Balangbakin. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding             selection designated 147-1,2-6-2-3, not patented.         -   Male parent.—AngelMist Basket Purple ‘Balangbeke’, U.S.             Plant Pat. No. 15,546. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             prostrate.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 15.9 cm. Width: Approximately 44.6 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves             branching habit. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 5.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Somewhat             brittle. Length from soil level to base of raceme:             Approximately 15.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.6 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 2.4 cm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 16. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular or obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Widely serrate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             7.8 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color             of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A with             venation of 144B. Color of lower surface of young and mature             foliage: 137C with venation of 144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balangbakin’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             7 to 10 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 5. Fragrance: Slight, sweet. Length or             height: Approximately 12.8 cm. Width: Approximately 4.2 cm.             Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 12. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Solitary, zygomorphic.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Globular. Length:             Approximately 7.4 mm. Diameter: Approximately 7.4 mm. Color             of upper surface: 75B with base of 75A. Color of lower             surface: 144D with spots of N79A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate. Aspect: Facing outward. Length:             Approximately 2.4 cm. Width: Approximately 2.3 cm. Depth:             Approximately 5.8 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused at base forming a throat and             consisting of an upper lip with 2 petals and a lower lip             with 3 petals consisting of 2 lateral petals and one central             petal. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse.         -   Upper lip.—Length of petals from throat: Approximately             8.2 mm. Width of each petal: Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous.             Color of upper surface when fully open: N74D. Color of lower             surface when fully open: 75A.         -   Lower lip, lateral petals.—Length of petals from throat:             Approximately 9.1 mm. Width of each petal: Approximately             8.7 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface when fully open: Closest to N74D with             spots of N80B. Color of lower surface when fully open: 75A             with a central spot of 75C.         -   Lower lip, central petal.—Length from palate: Approximately             7.2 mm. Width: Approximately 8.6 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when fully             open: Lighter than N74D with spots of N80B. Color of lower             surface when fully open: 75A at apex transitioning to 75D at             base.         -   Throat.—Length: Approximately 8.1 mm. Width: Approximately:             6.1 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Texture of             outer surface: Glabrous. Color of inner surface: 155D with             spots and streaks of N79B. Color of outer surface: 75A with             spots and streaks of N79B. Palate color: 155D with a central             spot of N144D or two central streaks of N144D. Palate             texture: Glabrous with glandular pubescent margin. Gland             color: 150C, transparent. Teeth color: 155D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Star, cupped. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glandular             pubescent at base. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface: 146B with margin and base of 187A.             Color of lower surface: 146B with a strong overlay of 187A.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Primarily             perpendicular to stem. Length: Approximately 9.5 mm.             Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per             flower. Stamen length: 4 mm. Filament length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Filament color: 84D. Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 84C. Pollen             amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Stigma shape: Pointed. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma             color: Colorless, opaque. Style length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Style color: Purer white than 155D with streaks of             84A near stigma. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary             texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 146D with spots of 187A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Angelonia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant named ‘Balangbakin’, substantially as herein shown and described. 